Dassai 45 Junmai Daiginjo Sake 1800mL

Brand: Dassai (Asahi Shuzo)

Release Name: Dassai 45 Junmai Daiginjo

Sake Style / Type: Premium Junmai Daiginjo Sake

Rice Variety: 100% Yamadanishiki

Rice Polishing Rate: 45%

Volume: 1800ml Bottle

Alc / Vol (%): 15.5–16.0%

Sake Meter Value (SMV): +3

Country: Japan

Region: Yamaguchi Prefecture (Chūgoku)

Brewing Method: Junmai Daiginjo (No Added Distilled Alcohol)

Limited Edition: No (Dassai's Standing, Best-Selling Entry-Tier Junmai Daiginjo Release)

Award Winner: Not independently confirmed with a specific competition trophy for this exact product — Dassai as a brand holds exceptional global prestige and reviewer acclaim across its range

Dassai is produced by Asahi Shuzo, a family-run brewery founded in 1948 in the mountains of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. Once on the brink of bankruptcy, the brewery made the bold decision to brew exclusively Junmai Daiginjo — the highest and most labour-intensive sake grade — combining traditional hand-crafted techniques like hand-washed rice with data-driven precision brewing. That singular focus transformed Dassai into one of the most internationally recognised sake brands in the world, expanding from rural Japan to markets including New York, and even sending a bottle into space as part of a research collaboration. Dassai's philosophy centres on brewing sake that is genuinely delicious to drink, rather than chasing volume or alcohol content, a commitment reflected across its full range from the accessible 45 through to the ultra-premium 23 and ultra-rare Beyond expressions.

Dassai has built one of the strongest reputations of any modern sake brand, brewing exclusively Junmai Daiginjo — the highest premium sake grade — rather than spreading across multiple grades like most breweries. The "45" refers to the rice polishing rate: 55% of each Yamadanishiki grain, widely considered the king of sake rice, is gently milled away before brewing, a labour-intensive process that unlocks the variety's natural fruity, floral character. Originally labelled Dassai 50, the brewery introduced this extra 5% of polishing in 2019 specifically to elevate quality, reflecting Asahi Shuzo's stated philosophy: rather than brewing sake designed to sell the most or get people drunk, their explicit aim is sake that's genuinely delicious to taste. That focus paid off — Dassai has grown from a small, near-bankrupt rural brewery into a globally recognised name, with bottles reportedly served at state dinners and in Michelin-starred restaurants, and even sent into space as part of a research project. As the most affordable entry point in the Dassai range while still meeting the same exacting Junmai Daiginjo standard as the brand's ultra-premium 23 and Beyond releases, it's an excellent, low-risk introduction to what serious Japanese sake can achieve — pairing beautifully with sashimi, sushi, grilled poultry and lighter dishes, best served chilled.